Summary
The tough times for pubs and nightclubs have been brought into sharp focus, with one Cheltenham venue shutting after just five months. Maggie’s , in Regent Street, opened on February 27, this year. But despite having a bright new look and a new name, the nightclub that replaced Popworld closed in early August.
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Those behind Maggie’s declined to comment on why the club closed so soon after launching, having previously advertised that it would play 1980s music and enable people to watch their favourite VHS classics. But Cheltenham Hospitality Company (CHC) has moved in quickly at the site to create The Loft . It plans to open it officially today (September 18).
The front of the building has a new black and grey colour and the inside has also had a makeover. The company has taken on a lease for the building from pub company Stonegate Group, which owns it. Mike Judge is one of three partners from CHC who are hoping The Loft will be a success.
The others are Vince Chung and Jenny Standring . Mike admits that these are difficult times for those running pubs and nightclubs in the UK, with Cheltenham being no exception. He said: “Hospitality is tough these days.
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No-one is really going out any more.” He said revellers often preferred to buy relatively cheap alcohol from supermarkets than in pubs and clubs. He added: “There are business rates to pay on top of everything else. It’s quite hard but I like a challenge.” Mike and his partners hope that by offering something different at the venue, and a variety of music, it will appeal to lots of people.
The two-level club, which is next to the Moo Moo nightclub but has no connection to it, will play club classics and pop downstairs and R&B upstairs – where there will be a VIP area. The upper level will also be available for hire for private functions. Mike said his company had spent “a good few thousands of pounds” on refurbishing the premises.
He added: “What was basically just a smoking area outside on the ground floor is now an outdoor bar with seating and Shisha. As far as I’m aware, nobody is doing Shisha in Cheltenham. “The music outside will be on low so as not to disturb the neighbours.” Mike’s company ran The Miller , in Bath Road, for Stonegate before it closed in June this year due to the pub company deciding to end its association with it.
He is hopeful that taking on The Loft will work out well for him and his colleagues. “We’re bringing three types of music together as one, plus having a private venue for hire and a Shisha area outside. I just hope it works, fingers crossed,” he said.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
